A state legislator who wants graduation projects to be optional has not been swayed by the State Board of Education's decision to delay the diploma requirement for one year.

Rep. Jimmy Love Sr. said he agreed to pull his bill from an earlier committee agenda after talking to schools CEO William Harrision, reports Lynn Bonner.

But Love, a Sanford Democrat,  said Friday he doesn't see a reason to abandon the bill, because he doesn't want the state to require the projects.

The state school board voted Thursday to put off until 2011 the requirement for students to complete graduation projects to get high school diplomas.

Love said he hadn't heard that the education department was going to address his concerns that the requirement was an unfunded mandate and that it would drive up drop out rates.

Love said his idea has good support in both the House and the Senate.

Sen. David Hoyle, a Gaston County Democrat, has his own bill removing the project as a graduation requirement.